US20180189545A1 - Image brightness non-uniformity correction method and image brightness correction device therefor - Google Patents
Image brightness non-uniformity correction method and image brightness correction device therefor Download PDFInfo
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- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06V—IMAGE OR VIDEO RECOGNITION OR UNDERSTANDING
- G06V40/00—Recognition of biometric, human-related or animal-related patterns in image or video data
- G06V40/10—Human or animal bodies, e.g. vehicle occupants or pedestrians; Body parts, e.g. hands
- G06V40/12—Fingerprints or palmprints
- G06V40/13—Sensors therefor
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- G06K9/00013—
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- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06V—IMAGE OR VIDEO RECOGNITION OR UNDERSTANDING
- G06V40/00—Recognition of biometric, human-related or animal-related patterns in image or video data
- G06V40/10—Human or animal bodies, e.g. vehicle occupants or pedestrians; Body parts, e.g. hands
- G06V40/12—Fingerprints or palmprints
- G06V40/1347—Preprocessing; Feature extraction
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- G—PHYSICS
- G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
- G09G—ARRANGEMENTS OR CIRCUITS FOR CONTROL OF INDICATING DEVICES USING STATIC MEANS TO PRESENT VARIABLE INFORMATION
- G09G2320/00—Control of display operating conditions
- G09G2320/02—Improving the quality of display appearance
- G09G2320/0233—Improving the luminance or brightness uniformity across the screen
Definitions
- the present invention relates to an image brightness non-uniformity correction method and an image brightness correction device therefor; particularly, it relates to such an image brightness non-uniformity correction method capable of eliminating non-uniformity of the brightness of an initial input image through an image gradient correction procedure, and it relates to such an image brightness correction device capable of eliminating non-uniformity of the brightness of an initial input image through an image gradient correction procedure performed by a computation unit therein.
- a conventional optical image identification system for example but not limited to a fingerprint identification system
- there is an unwanted issue of non-uniform brightness in the image for example but not limited to a fingerprint image
- non-uniform brightness means that the brightness of an object is not exactly represented by the brightness of the captured image. For example, assuming that the brightness of an object is uniform and consistent across an entire frame. However, due to the issue of non-uniformity, in the captured image, there are deviations of the brightness across the entire frame. For example, the brightness of the pixels near an edge of a fingerprint image may be lower than the brightness of the pixels near the center of the fingerprint image, although the original brightness may be the same at the two areas. As a result, the pixels near the edge suffer brightness degradation and are considerably darker than the pixels at the center, which may undesirably affect the identification accuracy of fingerprint. (To make it clear, the term “defective non-uniform brightness” will be used hereinafter to indicate that the non-uniform brightness is a defect, not the non-uniformity the object itself.)
- the present invention proposes an image brightness non-uniformity correction method capable of eliminating non-uniformity of the brightness of the initial input image through an image gradient correction procedure. Besides, the present invention also proposes an image brightness correction device capable of eliminating non-uniformity of the brightness of the initial input image through an image gradient correction procedure performed by a computation unit therein.
- the present invention provides an image brightness non-uniformity correction method, comprising the steps of: (A) generating an initial input image, wherein the initial input image includes a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix, wherein each pixel has a corresponding pixel brightness and the initial input image has defective non-uniform brightness; (B) performing a pre-processing procedure on the initial input image, to generate a pre-processed image; (C) performing an image gradient correction procedure on the pre-processed image, wherein, the image gradient correction procedure is adopted for eliminating non-uniformity of the brightness of the initial input image; and (D) outputting an output image having an uniformity-processed brightness; wherein, the image gradient correction procedure includes the steps of: (C1) based upon the pre-processed image, for each (a present pixel) of the pixels, generating a brightness difference ratio between the pixel brightness of a pixel immediately following the present pixel and the pixel brightness of the present pixel; (C2) generating a
- the image brightness non-uniformity correction method further comprises: before the step (C), estimating brightness information for at least a part of the pixels of the pre-processed image, to generate information of the brightness non-uniformity of the pre-processed image.
- the image brightness non-uniformity correction method further comprises: after the step (C) and before the step (D), for a pixel having a sharp gradient, replacing the integrated pixel brightness correction value of the pixel having the sharp gradient with a predetermined brightness, to eliminate a noise which is generated after the image gradient correction procedure has been performed.
- the predetermined brightness is a middle value obtained from the integrated pixel brightness correction values of at least a part of the pixels.
- the pre-processing procedure includes the steps of: (B1) performing a defect removing procedure on the initial input image, to remove a pixel having defective image information; (B2) performing a smoothing procedure on the defect-removed initial input image, to reduce noise interference on the initial input image; and (B3) performing a sharping procedure on the smoothed initial input image, to enhance contrast among the pixel brightness of the pixels near the edge of the initial input image.
- an image brightness correction device comprising: an image input unit, which is configured to operably generate an initial input image, wherein the initial input image includes a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix, wherein each pixel has a corresponding pixel brightness and the initial input image has defective non-uniform brightness; a pre-processing unit, which is configured to operably perform a pre-processing procedure on the initial input image, to generate a pre-processed image; and a computation unit, which is configured to operably perform an image gradient correction procedure on the pre-processed image, wherein, the image gradient correction procedure is adopted for eliminating non-uniformity of the brightness of the initial input image; and wherein, after performing the image gradient correction procedure, the computation unit outputs an output image having an uniformity-processed brightness.
- the image gradient correction procedure performed by the computation unit includes the steps of: based upon the pre-processed image, for each (a present pixel) of the pixels, generating a brightness difference ratio between the pixel brightness of a pixel immediately following the present pixel and the pixel brightness of the present pixel; generating a pixel brightness correction value for each pixel by subtracting a basis brightness ratio from the brightness difference ratio; and performing an integration procedure on each pixel brightness correction value for each pixel, to generate a corresponding integrated pixel brightness correction value for each pixel, wherein, for each present pixel, the integrated pixel brightness correction value is equal to the integrated pixel brightness correction value of an immediately preceding pixel multiplied by (1 plus the pixel brightness correction value of the immediately preceding pixel).
- FIG. 1A is a flowchart showing an image brightness non-uniformity correction method according to an embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 1B shows a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention, illustrating an image brightness correction device adopting an image brightness non-uniformity correction method according to the present invention.
- FIG. 1C shows a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of the present invention, illustrating an image brightness correction device adopting an image brightness non-uniformity correction method according to the present invention.
- FIG. 1D shows a schematic diagram of an initial input image having pixels arranged in a matrix.
- FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an image brightness non-uniformity correction method according to a more specific embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 3A illustrates an example of an initial input image having defective image information before a defect removing procedure on the initial input image is performed.
- FIG. 3B shows the brightness of the initial input image corresponding to FIG. 3A .
- FIG. 4 shows a schematic signal diagram of a predetermined image information middle value used during the defect removing procedure.
- FIG. 5A shows a schematic signal diagram of the defect-removed initial input image.
- FIG. 5B shows the brightness of the defect-removed initial input image corresponding to FIG. 5A .
- FIG. 6A is a schematic diagram for explaining how the present invention performs a surface estimation procedure.
- FIG. 6B shows the brightness of the pre-processed image after the surface estimation procedure has been performed on the pre-processed image.
- FIG. 6C shows a comparison between the pre-processed image which has been applied with a surface estimation procedure and the pre-processed image which has not been applied with a surface estimation procedure.
- FIG. 7 shows that each pixel has a corresponding pixel brightness.
- FIG. 8A-8B show the brightness of the pre-processed image after an image gradient correction procedure has been performed on the pre-processed image.
- FIG. 9 shows a comparison between the pre-processed image which has been applied with an image gradient correction procedure and the pre-processed image which has not been applied with an image gradient correction procedure.
- FIG. 10 shows an example wherein the pixels have a sharp gradient after an image gradient correction procedure has been performed on the pre-processed image.
- FIG. 1A is a flowchart showing an image brightness non-uniformity correction method according to an embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 1B shows a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention, illustrating an image brightness correction device which adopts the image brightness non-uniformity correction method according to the present invention.
- FIG. 1C shows a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention, illustrating another image brightness correction device which adopts the image brightness non-uniformity correction method according to the present invention.
- FIG. 1D shows a schematic diagram of an initial input image having pixels arranged in a matrix.
- the present invention provides an image brightness non-uniformity correction method, and such image brightness non-uniformity correction method can be applied to an image brightness correction device 10 .
- the image brightness correction device 10 can be a part of an image input system 40 , as shown in FIG. 1C .
- the image brightness correction device 10 can be disposed independently, and can be optionally connected to the image input system 40 , as shown in FIG. 1B .
- the image brightness correction device 10 includes: an image input unit 21 , a pre-processing unit 22 and a computation unit 23 .
- the image input unit 21 is configured to operably generate an initial input image F 1 (referring to step ST 1 in FIG. 1A ).
- the initial input image F 1 can be, for example but not limited to, an image captured by an image capturing device from an original object (e.g. a finger).
- the initial input image F 1 includes plural pixels 37 and the initial input image F 1 has non-uniform brightness.
- the pixels 37 can be arranged in a pixel array 30 by columns and rows, as shown in FIG. 1D .
- the pixels 37 can be arranged in other forms. Each pixel 37 has a corresponding pixel brightness (referring to step ST 1 in FIG. 1A ).
- the initial input image F 1 has non-uniform brightness does not mean the non-uniform brightness of the original object itself, but means that the brightness of the original object is not exactly represented by the brightness of the captured image.
- the three pixels which are labeled 37 should have the same degree of brightness because the positions these three pixels 37 represent on the original object have the same degree of brightness.
- there is a deviation of the brightness across the entire pixel array 30 causing these three pixels 37 to have different degrees of brightness.
- the brightness of pixels near the edge of the pixel array 30 may be lower than the brightness of the pixels near the center of the pixel array 30 , so that the two pixels 37 near the edge of the pixel array 30 suffer brightness degradation and are considerably darker than the pixel 37 at the center of the pixel array 30 .
- the present invention provides an image brightness non-uniformity correction method, and such image brightness non-uniformity correction method can be applied to an image brightness correction device 10 .
- the initial input image F 1 having a problem of non-uniform brightness is first inputted into the pre-processing unit 22 .
- the pre-processing unit 22 is configured to operably perform a pre-processing procedure on the initial input image F 1 which has non-uniform brightness, to generate a pre-processed image F 2 (referring to step ST 2 in FIG. 1A )
- the pre-processing procedure can include, for example but not limited to: first, performing a defect removing procedure on the initial input image F 1 having a non-uniform brightness, to remove one or more pixels having defective image information.
- this defect removing procedure can be implemented via, for example but not limited to, a Switch Median Method, to minimize the fuzzy parts in the image information. An example of using this Switch Median Method is shown in FIG. 3A , FIG. 3B , FIG. 4 , FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B .
- FIG. 3A illustrates that before a defect removing procedure on the initial input image is performed, the initial input image has defective image information.
- FIG. 3B shows the brightness of the initial input image corresponding to FIG. 3A .
- the initial input image F 1 has non-uniform brightness.
- FIG. 3A it can be clearly seen that there is a defect in the initial input image F 1 having non-uniform brightness.
- the Switch Median Method replaces the defect by a predetermined image information middle value.
- predetermined image information middle value is for example but not limited to, as shown in FIG. 4 .
- FIG. 4 shows a schematic signal diagram of a predetermined image information middle value used for the defect removing procedure.
- the Switch Median Method can be represented by an equation as below:
- Praw (i) denotes the original image information of an i th pixel in the pixel array 30 of the initial input image F 1 ; and Pmedian (i) denotes the predetermined image information middle value, such as shown in FIG. 4 .
- the Switch Median Method is thus: when an absolute value of a difference between “the image information of the i th pixel” and “the predetermined image information middle value” is greater than “the predetermined image information middle value” multiplied by a certain ratio, the image information of the i th pixel is replaced by the “predetermined image information middle value”.
- FIG. 5A shows that the defect is removed in the initial input image.
- FIG. 5B shows the brightness of the defect-removed initial input image corresponding to FIG. 5A .
- FIG. 3B Please compare FIG. 3B with FIG. 5B .
- the defective image information e.g., a defect pixel
- FIG. 3A shows that originally there is a defect in the initial input image F 1 shown in FIG. 3A , and after processed by the Switch Median Method, such defect has been removed from the initial input image F 1 .
- the defect removing procedure included in the pre-processing procedure is not limited to the Switch Median Method; it is also practicable and within the scope of the present invention to adopt any other method for defect removal.
- the defect removing procedure of the present invention can be implemented by means of a Median Method.
- a Median Method is well known to those skilled in the art, so the details thereof are not redundantly explained here.
- the pre-processing procedure performs a smoothing procedure on the defect-removed initial input image F 1 , to reduce noise interference on the initial input image F 1 .
- this smoothing procedure can be implemented via, for example but not limited to, a Gaussian Smoothing Method, to reduce noise interference on the initial input image F 1 .
- Gaussian Smoothing Method is well known to those skilled in the art, so the details thereof are not redundantly explained here.
- the smoothing procedure included in the pre-processing procedure is not limited to the Gaussian Smoothing Method; it is also practicable and within the scope of the present invention to adopt any other smoothing method.
- a sharping procedure is performed on the smoothed initial input image F 1 , to enhance the contrast among the brightness of pixels near the edge of the initial input image F 1 .
- this sharping procedure can be implemented via, for example but not limited to, an Un-Sharp Mask Method, to enhance the contrast among the brightness of pixels near the edge of the initial input image F 1 .
- Un-Sharp Mask Method is well known to those skilled in the art, so the details thereof are not redundantly explained here.
- the sharping procedure included in the pre-processing procedure is not limited to the Un-Sharp Mask Method; it is also practicable and within the scope of the present invention to adopt any other sharping method.
- a pre-processed image F 2 is generated.
- a surface estimation procedure can be optionally performed on the pre-processed image F 2 .
- this surface estimation procedure can, for example but not limited to, estimate brightness information for at least a part of the pixels 37 of the pre-processed image F 2 , to generate brightness non-uniformity information of the pre-processed image F 2 .
- FIG. 6A shows a schematic diagram, explaining how the present invention performs a surface estimation procedure.
- FIG. 6B shows an example of the brightness of a pre-processed image whereon a surface estimation procedure has been performed.
- FIG. 6C shows a comparison between the pre-processed image which has been applied with a surface estimation procedure and the pre-processed image which has not been applied with a surface estimation procedure.
- this surface estimation procedure can be implemented via, for example but not limited to, a Variable Smooth Window Size Method.
- a Variable Smooth Window Size Method The relevant details of this “Variable Smooth Window Size Method” are now explained with reference to FIG. 6A .
- the smooth window has a size and the size is variable.
- the size of the smooth window can cover only one pixel, which for example can be applied to a pixel at an edge.
- the size of the smooth window can cover three pixels, which for example can be applied to a pixel which is next to an edge pixel.
- the size of the smooth window can cover five pixels, which for example can be applied to a pixel not at an edge and not next to an edge pixel.
- the following description with respect to the “Variable Smooth Window Size Method” will take “five pixel as the smooth window” as an example.
- the brightness information of the pixel which is at the middle position i.e., the 3 rd pixel
- the brightness information of the pixel which is at middle position i.e., the 2 nd pixel
- the pre-processed image F 2 has different brightness at different positions (namely, position A, position B and position C).
- the brightness of the pixels at position A and position C of the pre-processed image F 2 are higher than the brightness of the pixel at position B of the pre-processed image F 2 . That is, the brightness of the pixels at position A and position C are relatively brighter, whereas, the brightness of the pixel at position B is relatively darker, as shown represented by the curve in FIG. 6C , wherein the curve of “pre-processed image without surface estimation” shows the brightness along the line EE in the pre-processed image F 2 which has not yet been processed by the surface estimation procedure.
- the surface estimation procedure proposed by the present invention estimates brightness information of at least a part of the pixels 37 of the pre-processed image F 2 (that is, the brightness of at least a part of the pixels 37 are replaced by the estimated value), so as to generate the brightness non-uniformity information of the pre-processed image F 2 wherein minor fluctuations have been removed.
- the thus obtained brightness non-uniformity information of the pre-processed image F 2 will be helpful to the subsequent image gradient correction procedure.
- the surface estimation procedure proposed by the present invention is not limited to the Variable Smooth Window Size Method; it is also practicable and within the scope of the present invention that the surface estimation procedure adopts any other method.
- the surface estimation procedure proposed by the present invention can be implemented via, for example but not limited to, a Replicate Method.
- the surface estimation procedure proposed by the present invention can be implemented via, for example but not limited to, a Mirror Method.
- the surface estimation procedure proposed by the present invention can be implemented via, for example but not limited to, a Fixed Value Method.
- FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an image brightness non-uniformity correction method according to a specific embodiment of the present invention.
- the initial input image F 1 having defective non-uniform brightness is first inputted into the pre-processing unit 22 (referring to step ST 1 in FIG. 2 ).
- the pre-processing unit 22 performs a pre-processing procedure on the initial input image F 1 having defective non-uniform brightness, to generate a pre-processed image F 2 (referring to step ST 2 in FIG. 2 ).
- the brightness non-uniformity information of the pre-processed image F 2 is generated, and the above-mentioned surface estimation procedure can be optionally performed when generating the brightness non-uniformity information of the pre-processed image F 2 ; in one embodiment, after the brightness non-uniformity information of the pre-processed image F 2 has been generated, the pre-processed image F 2 is inputted to the computation unit 23 wherein an image gradient correction procedure will be performed on the pre-processed image F 2 .
- the pre-processed image F 2 can be directly inputted to the computation unit 23 (without being processed by the above-mentioned surface estimation procedure) wherein the image gradient correction procedure will be directly performed on the pre-processed image F 2 (referring to step ST 3 in FIG. 2 ).
- the computation unit 23 is configured to operably perform an image gradient correction procedure on the pre-processed image F 2 (referring to step ST 3 in FIG. 2 ).
- One advantage of the present invention is that the present invention eliminates the brightness non-uniformity of the initial input image F 1 through the image gradient correction procedure.
- the computation unit 23 After performing the image gradient correction procedure, the computation unit 23 outputs an output image F 3 having an uniformity-processed brightness.
- the image gradient correction procedure performed by the computation unit 23 includes the following steps:
- the image gradient correction procedure performed by the computation unit 23 generates a brightness difference ratio between the pixel brightness of an immediately following pixel and the pixel brightness of the present pixel (referring to step ST 31 in FIG. 2 ).
- step ST 31 in FIG. 2 can be expressed as:
- P(i,j) denotes a pixel 37 (i.e., a present pixel, as shown in FIG. 7 ) at i th row and j th column of the pixel array 30 of the initial input image F 1
- P(i+1,j) denotes a pixel 37 (i.e., an immediately following pixel, as shown in FIG. 7 ) at i+1 th row and j th column of the pixel array 30 of the initial input image F 1
- G raw x (i,j) denotes a brightness difference ratio of the present pixel in a horizontal direction (i.e., X-axis direction).
- a brightness difference ratio in a horizontal direction (i.e., X-axis direction) between the present pixel P(i,j) and the immediately following pixel P(i+1,j) shown in FIG. 7 is obtained as described in the above.
- a brightness difference ratio of a pixel 37 (i.e., the present pixel) in a vertical direction (i.e., Y-axis direction, wherein, X-axis direction and Y-axis direction are orthogonal to each other) can be obtained as:
- P(i,j) denotes a pixel 37 (i.e., a present pixel) at i th row and j th column of the pixel array 30 of the initial input image F 1
- P(i,j+1) denotes a pixel 37 (i.e., an immediately following pixel) at i th row and j+1 th column of the pixel array 30 of the initial input image F 1
- G raw y (i,j) denotes a brightness difference ratio of the present pixel in a vertical direction (i.e., Y-axis direction).
- the image gradient correction procedure performed by the computation unit 23 generates a pixel brightness correction value for each pixel 37 by subtracting a basis brightness ratio from the brightness difference ratio (referring to step ST 32 in FIG. 2 ).
- step ST 32 in FIG. 2 can be expressed as:
- G correct x ( i,j ) G raw x ( i,j ) ⁇ G surface x ( i,j )
- G raw x (i,j) denotes a brightness difference ratio of the present pixel P(i,j) in a horizontal direction (i.e., X-axis direction);
- G surface x (i,j) denotes a basis brightness ratio of each pixel 37 in the horizontal direction (i.e., X-axis direction);
- G correct x (i,j) denotes a pixel brightness correction value of the present pixel P(i,j) in the horizontal direction (i.e., X-axis direction).
- a pixel brightness correction value of a pixel 37 (i.e., the present pixel) in a vertical direction (i.e., Y-axis direction) can be obtained as:
- G correct y ( i,j ) G raw y ( i,j ) ⁇ G surface y ( i,j )
- G raw y (i,j) denotes a brightness difference ratio of the present pixel P(i,j) in a vertical direction (i.e., Y-axis direction);
- G surface y (i,j) denotes a basis brightness ratio of each pixel 37 in the vertical direction (i.e., Y-axis direction);
- G correct y (i,j) denotes a pixel brightness correction value of the present pixel P(i,j) in the vertical direction (i.e., Y-axis direction).
- the image gradient correction procedure performed by the computation unit 23 performs an integration procedure on the pixel brightness correction value of each pixel 37 , to generate a corresponding integrated pixel brightness correction value for each pixel 37 .
- the integrated pixel brightness correction value of each pixel 37 is equal to an integrated pixel brightness correction value of an immediately preceding pixel multiplied by (1 plus the pixel brightness correction value of the immediately preceding pixel) (referring to step ST 33 in FIG. 2 ).
- step ST 33 in FIG. 2 can be expressed as:
- P correct x ( i,j ) G correct x ( i ⁇ 1, j )* P correct x ( i ⁇ 1, j )+ P correct x ( i ⁇ 1, j )
- P correct x (i ⁇ 1,j) denotes an integrated pixel brightness correct correction value of an immediately preceding pixel (i.e., pixel P(i ⁇ 1,j)) in a horizontal direction (i.e., X-axis direction);
- G correct x (i ⁇ 1,j) denotes a pixel brightness correction correct value of the immediately preceding pixel (i.e., pixel P(i ⁇ 1,j)) in the horizontal direction (i.e., X-axis direction);
- P correct x (i,j) denotes an integrated pixel brightness correction value of the present pixel P(i,j) in the horizontal direction (i.e., X-axis direction).
- an integrated pixel brightness correction value of the present pixel in a vertical direction i.e., Y-axis direction
- P correct y ( i,j ) G correct y ( i,j ⁇ 1)* P correct y ( i,j ⁇ 1)+ P correct y ( i,j ⁇ 1)
- P correct y (i,j ⁇ 1) denotes an integrated pixel brightness correction value of an immediately preceding pixel (i.e., pixel P(i,j ⁇ 1)) in a vertical direction (i.e., Y-axis direction);
- G correct y (i,j ⁇ 1) denotes a pixel brightness correction value of the immediately preceding pixel (i.e., pixel P(i,j ⁇ 1)) in the vertical direction (i.e., Y-axis direction);
- P correct y (i,j) denotes an integrated pixel brightness correction value of the present pixel P(i,j) in the vertical direction (i.e., Y-axis direction).
- FIGS. 8A-8B and FIG. 9 show an example of the brightness of the pre-processed image, before and after an image gradient correction procedure has been performed on the pre-processed image.
- FIG. 9 shows a comparison between the pre-processed image which has been applied with the image gradient correction procedure and the pre-processed image which has not been applied with the image gradient correction procedure.
- the pre-processed image F 2 has been processed by the surface estimation procedure to remove minor fluctuations, the pre-processed image F 2 still has defective non-uniform brightness.
- FIG. 8A corresponds to the curve “pre-processed image which has been processed by surface estimation procedure (non-uniform brightness)” in FIG. 9 .
- FIG. 9 also shows that, even though the pre-processed image F 2 has been processed by the surface estimation procedure to remove minor fluctuations, the pre-processed image F 2 still has defective non-uniform brightness. For example, as shown in FIG. 8A and FIG. 9 , the brightness of pixels near the center of the pre-processed image F 2 are lower than the brightness of the pixels near the edge of the pre-processed image F 2 .
- the pixels near the center of the pre-processed image F 2 suffer brightness degradation and are considerably darker than the pixels at the edge of the pre-processed image F 2 , which undesirably affects the accuracy in identifying the initial input image F 1 (which is for example a fingerprint image).
- one feature and advantage of the present invention is that the present invention can eliminate the brightness non-uniformity of the initial input image F 1 through processing the pre-processed image F 2 by the image gradient correction procedure.
- the defect of non-uniform brightness within the pre-processed image F 2 is greatly reduced.
- the pre-processed image F 2 in FIG. 8B whose defect of non-uniform brightness is greatly reduced, corresponds to the curve of “pre-processed image which has been processed by image gradient correction procedure (uniform brightness)” in FIG. 9 .
- the brightness of the pre-processed image F 2 has become substantially uniform.
- FIG. 8B and FIG. 9 after the pre-processed image F 2 is processed by the image gradient correction procedure, it is clear that the brightness of pixels near the center of the pre-processed image F 2 is substantially the same as the brightness of the pixels near the edge of the pre-processed image F 2 .
- the pixels near the center of the pre-processed image F 2 no longer suffer brightness degradation and have substantially the same brightness as the pixels at the edge of the pre-processed image F 2 ; this greatly improves the accuracy of identifying the initial input image F 1 (which is for example a fingerprint image).
- FIG. 10 shows an example of a pixel having a sharp gradient after an image gradient correction procedure has been performed on the pre-processed image.
- the present invention can further eliminate a noise which is generated after the image gradient correction procedure has been performed.
- the pre-processed image F 2 has already been processed by the image gradient correction procedure, but this pre-processed image F 2 has a noise.
- the present invention will replace the integrated pixel brightness correction value of the pixel having the sharp gradient, by a predetermined brightness, to eliminate the noise.
- a pixel having a sharp gradient in a horizontal direction i.e., X-axis direction
- sign(G correct x (i ⁇ 1,j)) denotes a positive sign or a negative sign of a pixel brightness correction value of the immediately preceding pixel (i.e., pixel P(i ⁇ 1,j)) in the horizontal direction (i.e., X-axis direction); sign(G correct x (i,j)) denotes a positive sign or a negative sign of a pixel brightness correction value of the present pixel P(i,j) in the horizontal direction (i.e., X-axis direction).
- each pixel 37 has a noise defect of “sharp gradient” in a vertical direction (i.e., Y-axis direction) can be determined by:
- sign(G correct y (i,j ⁇ 1)) denotes a positive sign or a negative sign of a pixel brightness correction value of the immediately preceding pixel (i.e., pixel P(i,j ⁇ 1)) in the vertical direction (i.e., Y-axis direction); sign(G correct y (i,j)) denotes a positive sign or a negative sign of a pixel brightness correction value of the present pixel P(i,j) in the vertical direction (i.e., Y-axis direction).
- the present invention can remedy such undesirable noise defect by replacing the integrated pixel brightness correction value of the pixel having the sharp gradient by a predetermined brightness, to eliminate a noise in the pre-processed image F 2 after it is processed by the image gradient correction procedure.
- “replacing the integrated pixel brightness correction value of the pixel having the sharp gradient by a predetermined brightness” can be expressed as:
- P correct (i,j) denotes an integrated pixel brightness correction value of the pixel having the sharp gradient
- P correct median (i,j) denotes a middle value of the integrated pixel brightness correction value of the pixel having the sharp gradient.
- the middle value is for example obtained from at least a part of the pixels, such as an average of the brightness of a predetermined number of neighboring pixels, or a preset value.
- the present invention can further eliminate a noise defect of “sharp gradient” within the pre-processed image F 2 .
- the step ST 4 i.e., the computation unit 23 outputs an output image F 3 having an uniformity-processed brightness
- a pre-processed image F 2 having a more accurate uniform brightness can be obtained.
Abstract
The present invention provides an image brightness non-uniformity correction method and an image brightness correction device therefor. The image brightness non-uniformity correction method includes the steps of: (A) generating an initial input image having pixels arranged in a matrix, wherein each pixel has a corresponding pixel brightness and the initial input image has non-uniform brightness; (B) performing a pre-processing procedure on the initial input image, to generate a pre-processed image; (C) performing an image gradient correction procedure on the pre-processed image, to eliminate non-uniformity of the brightness of the initial input image; and (D) outputting an output image having an uniformity-processed brightness.
Description
- The present invention claims priority to U.S. 62/440,746, filed on Dec. 30, 2016 and claims priority to TW 106129438 filed on Aug. 30, 2017.
- The present invention relates to an image brightness non-uniformity correction method and an image brightness correction device therefor; particularly, it relates to such an image brightness non-uniformity correction method capable of eliminating non-uniformity of the brightness of an initial input image through an image gradient correction procedure, and it relates to such an image brightness correction device capable of eliminating non-uniformity of the brightness of an initial input image through an image gradient correction procedure performed by a computation unit therein.
- Generally, in a conventional optical image identification system (for example but not limited to a fingerprint identification system), there is an unwanted issue of non-uniform brightness in the image (for example but not limited to a fingerprint image) captured by an input device. This is usually due to non-uniformity of the ambient light source, non-uniformity of the angle of the incident light into the input device, and/or non-uniformity of the image sensing device.
- More specifically, non-uniform brightness means that the brightness of an object is not exactly represented by the brightness of the captured image. For example, assuming that the brightness of an object is uniform and consistent across an entire frame. However, due to the issue of non-uniformity, in the captured image, there are deviations of the brightness across the entire frame. For example, the brightness of the pixels near an edge of a fingerprint image may be lower than the brightness of the pixels near the center of the fingerprint image, although the original brightness may be the same at the two areas. As a result, the pixels near the edge suffer brightness degradation and are considerably darker than the pixels at the center, which may undesirably affect the identification accuracy of fingerprint. (To make it clear, the term “defective non-uniform brightness” will be used hereinafter to indicate that the non-uniform brightness is a defect, not the non-uniformity the object itself.)
- In view of the above, to overcome the drawback in the prior art, the present invention proposes an image brightness non-uniformity correction method capable of eliminating non-uniformity of the brightness of the initial input image through an image gradient correction procedure. Besides, the present invention also proposes an image brightness correction device capable of eliminating non-uniformity of the brightness of the initial input image through an image gradient correction procedure performed by a computation unit therein.
- From one perspective, the present invention provides an image brightness non-uniformity correction method, comprising the steps of: (A) generating an initial input image, wherein the initial input image includes a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix, wherein each pixel has a corresponding pixel brightness and the initial input image has defective non-uniform brightness; (B) performing a pre-processing procedure on the initial input image, to generate a pre-processed image; (C) performing an image gradient correction procedure on the pre-processed image, wherein, the image gradient correction procedure is adopted for eliminating non-uniformity of the brightness of the initial input image; and (D) outputting an output image having an uniformity-processed brightness; wherein, the image gradient correction procedure includes the steps of: (C1) based upon the pre-processed image, for each (a present pixel) of the pixels, generating a brightness difference ratio between the pixel brightness of a pixel immediately following the present pixel and the pixel brightness of the present pixel; (C2) generating a pixel brightness correction value for each pixel by subtracting a basis brightness ratio from the brightness difference ratio; and (C3) performing an integration procedure on each pixel brightness correction value for each pixel, to generate a corresponding integrated pixel brightness correction value for each pixel, wherein, for each present pixel, the integrated pixel brightness correction value is equal to the integrated pixel brightness correction value of an immediately preceding pixel multiplied by (1 plus the pixel brightness correction value of the immediately preceding pixel).
- In one embodiment, the image brightness non-uniformity correction method further comprises: before the step (C), estimating brightness information for at least a part of the pixels of the pre-processed image, to generate information of the brightness non-uniformity of the pre-processed image.
- In one embodiment, the image brightness non-uniformity correction method further comprises: after the step (C) and before the step (D), for a pixel having a sharp gradient, replacing the integrated pixel brightness correction value of the pixel having the sharp gradient with a predetermined brightness, to eliminate a noise which is generated after the image gradient correction procedure has been performed.
- In one embodiment, the predetermined brightness is a middle value obtained from the integrated pixel brightness correction values of at least a part of the pixels.
- In one embodiment, the pre-processing procedure includes the steps of: (B1) performing a defect removing procedure on the initial input image, to remove a pixel having defective image information; (B2) performing a smoothing procedure on the defect-removed initial input image, to reduce noise interference on the initial input image; and (B3) performing a sharping procedure on the smoothed initial input image, to enhance contrast among the pixel brightness of the pixels near the edge of the initial input image.
- From another perspective, the present invention provides an image brightness correction device, comprising: an image input unit, which is configured to operably generate an initial input image, wherein the initial input image includes a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix, wherein each pixel has a corresponding pixel brightness and the initial input image has defective non-uniform brightness; a pre-processing unit, which is configured to operably perform a pre-processing procedure on the initial input image, to generate a pre-processed image; and a computation unit, which is configured to operably perform an image gradient correction procedure on the pre-processed image, wherein, the image gradient correction procedure is adopted for eliminating non-uniformity of the brightness of the initial input image; and wherein, after performing the image gradient correction procedure, the computation unit outputs an output image having an uniformity-processed brightness.
- In one embodiment, the image gradient correction procedure performed by the computation unit includes the steps of: based upon the pre-processed image, for each (a present pixel) of the pixels, generating a brightness difference ratio between the pixel brightness of a pixel immediately following the present pixel and the pixel brightness of the present pixel; generating a pixel brightness correction value for each pixel by subtracting a basis brightness ratio from the brightness difference ratio; and performing an integration procedure on each pixel brightness correction value for each pixel, to generate a corresponding integrated pixel brightness correction value for each pixel, wherein, for each present pixel, the integrated pixel brightness correction value is equal to the integrated pixel brightness correction value of an immediately preceding pixel multiplied by (1 plus the pixel brightness correction value of the immediately preceding pixel).
- The objectives, technical details, features, and effects of the present invention will be better understood with regard to the detailed description of the embodiments below, with reference to the attached drawings.
-
FIG. 1A is a flowchart showing an image brightness non-uniformity correction method according to an embodiment of the present invention. -
FIG. 1B shows a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention, illustrating an image brightness correction device adopting an image brightness non-uniformity correction method according to the present invention. -
FIG. 1C shows a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of the present invention, illustrating an image brightness correction device adopting an image brightness non-uniformity correction method according to the present invention. -
FIG. 1D shows a schematic diagram of an initial input image having pixels arranged in a matrix. -
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an image brightness non-uniformity correction method according to a more specific embodiment of the present invention. -
FIG. 3A illustrates an example of an initial input image having defective image information before a defect removing procedure on the initial input image is performed. -
FIG. 3B shows the brightness of the initial input image corresponding toFIG. 3A . -
FIG. 4 shows a schematic signal diagram of a predetermined image information middle value used during the defect removing procedure. -
FIG. 5A shows a schematic signal diagram of the defect-removed initial input image. -
FIG. 5B shows the brightness of the defect-removed initial input image corresponding toFIG. 5A . -
FIG. 6A is a schematic diagram for explaining how the present invention performs a surface estimation procedure. -
FIG. 6B shows the brightness of the pre-processed image after the surface estimation procedure has been performed on the pre-processed image. -
FIG. 6C shows a comparison between the pre-processed image which has been applied with a surface estimation procedure and the pre-processed image which has not been applied with a surface estimation procedure. -
FIG. 7 shows that each pixel has a corresponding pixel brightness. -
FIG. 8A-8B show the brightness of the pre-processed image after an image gradient correction procedure has been performed on the pre-processed image. -
FIG. 9 shows a comparison between the pre-processed image which has been applied with an image gradient correction procedure and the pre-processed image which has not been applied with an image gradient correction procedure. -
FIG. 10 shows an example wherein the pixels have a sharp gradient after an image gradient correction procedure has been performed on the pre-processed image. - Please refer to
FIG. 1A in conjugation withFIGS. 1B-1D .FIG. 1A is a flowchart showing an image brightness non-uniformity correction method according to an embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 1B shows a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention, illustrating an image brightness correction device which adopts the image brightness non-uniformity correction method according to the present invention.FIG. 1C shows a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention, illustrating another image brightness correction device which adopts the image brightness non-uniformity correction method according to the present invention.FIG. 1D shows a schematic diagram of an initial input image having pixels arranged in a matrix. - The present invention provides an image brightness non-uniformity correction method, and such image brightness non-uniformity correction method can be applied to an image
brightness correction device 10. In one embodiment, the imagebrightness correction device 10 can be a part of animage input system 40, as shown inFIG. 1C . Or, in another embodiment, the imagebrightness correction device 10 can be disposed independently, and can be optionally connected to theimage input system 40, as shown inFIG. 1B . - In one embodiment, the image
brightness correction device 10 includes: animage input unit 21, apre-processing unit 22 and acomputation unit 23. - As shown in
FIG. 1B andFIG. 1C , theimage input unit 21 is configured to operably generate an initial input image F1 (referring to step ST1 inFIG. 1A ). The initial input image F1 can be, for example but not limited to, an image captured by an image capturing device from an original object (e.g. a finger). The initial input image F1 includesplural pixels 37 and the initial input image F1 has non-uniform brightness. In one embodiment, preferably, thepixels 37 can be arranged in apixel array 30 by columns and rows, as shown inFIG. 1D . In other embodiments, thepixels 37 can be arranged in other forms. Eachpixel 37 has a corresponding pixel brightness (referring to step ST1 inFIG. 1A ). - That “the initial input image F1 has non-uniform brightness” does not mean the non-uniform brightness of the original object itself, but means that the brightness of the original object is not exactly represented by the brightness of the captured image. For example, referring to
FIG. 1D , the three pixels which are labeled 37 should have the same degree of brightness because the positions these threepixels 37 represent on the original object have the same degree of brightness. However, due to the issue of non-uniformity, in the initial input image F1, there is a deviation of the brightness across theentire pixel array 30, causing these threepixels 37 to have different degrees of brightness. For example, the brightness of pixels near the edge of thepixel array 30 may be lower than the brightness of the pixels near the center of thepixel array 30, so that the twopixels 37 near the edge of thepixel array 30 suffer brightness degradation and are considerably darker than thepixel 37 at the center of thepixel array 30. - To overcome the problem of non-uniform brightness of the initial input image F1, the present invention provides an image brightness non-uniformity correction method, and such image brightness non-uniformity correction method can be applied to an image
brightness correction device 10. - According to the present invention, the initial input image F1 having a problem of non-uniform brightness is first inputted into the
pre-processing unit 22. - The
pre-processing unit 22 is configured to operably perform a pre-processing procedure on the initial input image F1 which has non-uniform brightness, to generate a pre-processed image F2 (referring to step ST2 inFIG. 1A ) - In one embodiment, the pre-processing procedure can include, for example but not limited to: first, performing a defect removing procedure on the initial input image F1 having a non-uniform brightness, to remove one or more pixels having defective image information. In one embodiment, this defect removing procedure can be implemented via, for example but not limited to, a Switch Median Method, to minimize the fuzzy parts in the image information. An example of using this Switch Median Method is shown in
FIG. 3A ,FIG. 3B ,FIG. 4 ,FIG. 5A andFIG. 5B . - Please refer to
FIG. 3A andFIG. 3B .FIG. 3A illustrates that before a defect removing procedure on the initial input image is performed, the initial input image has defective image information.FIG. 3B shows the brightness of the initial input image corresponding toFIG. 3A . - As shown in
FIG. 3B , the initial input image F1 has non-uniform brightness. InFIG. 3A , it can be clearly seen that there is a defect in the initial input image F1 having non-uniform brightness. - To remove the defect in
FIG. 3A , the Switch Median Method replaces the defect by a predetermined image information middle value. In one embodiment, such predetermined image information middle value is for example but not limited to, as shown inFIG. 4 .FIG. 4 shows a schematic signal diagram of a predetermined image information middle value used for the defect removing procedure. - In one embodiment, the Switch Median Method can be represented by an equation as below:
-
if |Praw(i)−Pmedian(i)|>Pmedian(i)*ratio Praw(i)=Pmedian(i) - where, Praw (i) denotes the original image information of an ith pixel in the
pixel array 30 of the initial input image F1; and Pmedian (i) denotes the predetermined image information middle value, such as shown inFIG. 4 . - According to the above-mentioned equation, the Switch Median Method is thus: when an absolute value of a difference between “the image information of the ith pixel” and “the predetermined image information middle value” is greater than “the predetermined image information middle value” multiplied by a certain ratio, the image information of the ith pixel is replaced by the “predetermined image information middle value”.
- Please refer to
FIG. 5A andFIG. 5B .FIG. 5A shows that the defect is removed in the initial input image.FIG. 5B shows the brightness of the defect-removed initial input image corresponding toFIG. 5A . - Please compare
FIG. 3B withFIG. 5B . After the initial input image F1 having defective non-uniform brightness shown inFIG. 3B is processed via the Switch Median Method, the defective image information (e.g., a defect pixel) of the initial input image F1 is removed. A comparison betweenFIG. 3A andFIG. 5A shows that originally there is a defect in the initial input image F1 shown inFIG. 3A , and after processed by the Switch Median Method, such defect has been removed from the initial input image F1. - It is noteworthy that, in the present invention, the defect removing procedure included in the pre-processing procedure is not limited to the Switch Median Method; it is also practicable and within the scope of the present invention to adopt any other method for defect removal. For example, in another embodiment, the defect removing procedure of the present invention can be implemented by means of a Median Method. A Median Method is well known to those skilled in the art, so the details thereof are not redundantly explained here.
- Next, in one embodiment, the pre-processing procedure performs a smoothing procedure on the defect-removed initial input image F1, to reduce noise interference on the initial input image F1.
- In one embodiment, this smoothing procedure can be implemented via, for example but not limited to, a Gaussian Smoothing Method, to reduce noise interference on the initial input image F1. Gaussian Smoothing Method is well known to those skilled in the art, so the details thereof are not redundantly explained here.
- It is noteworthy that, in the present invention, the smoothing procedure included in the pre-processing procedure is not limited to the Gaussian Smoothing Method; it is also practicable and within the scope of the present invention to adopt any other smoothing method.
- Next, in one embodiment, a sharping procedure is performed on the smoothed initial input image F1, to enhance the contrast among the brightness of pixels near the edge of the initial input image F1.
- In one embodiment, this sharping procedure can be implemented via, for example but not limited to, an Un-Sharp Mask Method, to enhance the contrast among the brightness of pixels near the edge of the initial input image F1. Un-Sharp Mask Method is well known to those skilled in the art, so the details thereof are not redundantly explained here.
- It is noteworthy that, in the present invention, the sharping procedure included in the pre-processing procedure is not limited to the Un-Sharp Mask Method; it is also practicable and within the scope of the present invention to adopt any other sharping method.
- According to the present invention, after the initial input image F1 having defective non-uniform brightness has been processed via the above-mentioned pre-processing procedure, a pre-processed image F2 is generated. Next, before an image gradient correction procedure is performed on the pre-processed image F2, a surface estimation procedure can be optionally performed on the pre-processed image F2.
- In one embodiment, this surface estimation procedure can, for example but not limited to, estimate brightness information for at least a part of the
pixels 37 of the pre-processed image F2, to generate brightness non-uniformity information of the pre-processed image F2. - An example of the implementation and the result of this surface estimation procedure will be explained with reference to
FIGS. 6A-6C . - Please refer to
FIGS. 6A-6C .FIG. 6A shows a schematic diagram, explaining how the present invention performs a surface estimation procedure.FIG. 6B shows an example of the brightness of a pre-processed image whereon a surface estimation procedure has been performed.FIG. 6C shows a comparison between the pre-processed image which has been applied with a surface estimation procedure and the pre-processed image which has not been applied with a surface estimation procedure. - As shown in
FIG. 6A , in one embodiment, this surface estimation procedure can be implemented via, for example but not limited to, a Variable Smooth Window Size Method. The relevant details of this “Variable Smooth Window Size Method” are now explained with reference toFIG. 6A . - As shown in
FIG. 6A , the smooth window has a size and the size is variable. For example, the size of the smooth window can cover only one pixel, which for example can be applied to a pixel at an edge. For another example, the size of the smooth window can cover three pixels, which for example can be applied to a pixel which is next to an edge pixel. For still another example, the size of the smooth window can cover five pixels, which for example can be applied to a pixel not at an edge and not next to an edge pixel. The following description with respect to the “Variable Smooth Window Size Method” will take “five pixel as the smooth window” as an example. - More specifically, when the size of the smooth window covers five pixels, the brightness information of the pixel which is at the middle position (i.e., the 3rd pixel) is equal to an average of the sum of respective brightness information of all five pixels; and similarly, when the size of the smooth window covers three pixels, the brightness information of the pixel which is at middle position (i.e., the 2nd pixel) is equal to an average of the sum of respective brightness information of all three pixels
- As shown in
FIG. 6B , in a line EE, the pre-processed image F2 has different brightness at different positions (namely, position A, position B and position C). For example, the brightness of the pixels at position A and position C of the pre-processed image F2 are higher than the brightness of the pixel at position B of the pre-processed image F2. That is, the brightness of the pixels at position A and position C are relatively brighter, whereas, the brightness of the pixel at position B is relatively darker, as shown represented by the curve inFIG. 6C , wherein the curve of “pre-processed image without surface estimation” shows the brightness along the line EE in the pre-processed image F2 which has not yet been processed by the surface estimation procedure. - Please compare the curve of “pre-processed image without surface estimation” and the curve of “pre-processed image which has been processed by the surface estimation procedure” in
FIG. 6C . As shown inFIG. 6C , the surface estimation procedure proposed by the present invention estimates brightness information of at least a part of thepixels 37 of the pre-processed image F2 (that is, the brightness of at least a part of thepixels 37 are replaced by the estimated value), so as to generate the brightness non-uniformity information of the pre-processed image F2 wherein minor fluctuations have been removed. The thus obtained brightness non-uniformity information of the pre-processed image F2 will be helpful to the subsequent image gradient correction procedure. - It is noteworthy that, the surface estimation procedure proposed by the present invention is not limited to the Variable Smooth Window Size Method; it is also practicable and within the scope of the present invention that the surface estimation procedure adopts any other method. For example, in another embodiment, the surface estimation procedure proposed by the present invention can be implemented via, for example but not limited to, a Replicate Method. In yet another embodiment, the surface estimation procedure proposed by the present invention can be implemented via, for example but not limited to, a Mirror Method. In still another embodiment, the surface estimation procedure proposed by the present invention can be implemented via, for example but not limited to, a Fixed Value Method.
- The details of a Replicate Method, a Mirror Method or a Fixed Value Method are well known to those skilled in the art, so these methods are not redundantly explained here.
- Please refer to
FIGS. 1B-1C in conjugation withFIG. 2 .FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an image brightness non-uniformity correction method according to a specific embodiment of the present invention. - According to the present invention, the initial input image F1 having defective non-uniform brightness is first inputted into the pre-processing unit 22 (referring to step ST1 in
FIG. 2 ). Thepre-processing unit 22 performs a pre-processing procedure on the initial input image F1 having defective non-uniform brightness, to generate a pre-processed image F2 (referring to step ST2 inFIG. 2 ). - Next, the brightness non-uniformity information of the pre-processed image F2 is generated, and the above-mentioned surface estimation procedure can be optionally performed when generating the brightness non-uniformity information of the pre-processed image F2; in one embodiment, after the brightness non-uniformity information of the pre-processed image F2 has been generated, the pre-processed image F2 is inputted to the
computation unit 23 wherein an image gradient correction procedure will be performed on the pre-processed image F2. Or, in another embodiment, the pre-processed image F2 can be directly inputted to the computation unit 23 (without being processed by the above-mentioned surface estimation procedure) wherein the image gradient correction procedure will be directly performed on the pre-processed image F2 (referring to step ST3 inFIG. 2 ). - The
computation unit 23 is configured to operably perform an image gradient correction procedure on the pre-processed image F2 (referring to step ST3 inFIG. 2 ). - One advantage of the present invention is that the present invention eliminates the brightness non-uniformity of the initial input image F1 through the image gradient correction procedure.
- After performing the image gradient correction procedure, the
computation unit 23 outputs an output image F3 having an uniformity-processed brightness. - In one embodiment, the image gradient correction procedure performed by the
computation unit 23 includes the following steps: - First, based upon the pre-processed image F2, for each (a present pixel) of the
pixels 37, the image gradient correction procedure performed by thecomputation unit 23 generates a brightness difference ratio between the pixel brightness of an immediately following pixel and the pixel brightness of the present pixel (referring to step ST31 inFIG. 2 ). - In one embodiment, step ST31 in
FIG. 2 can be expressed as: -
- where P(i,j) denotes a pixel 37 (i.e., a present pixel, as shown in
FIG. 7 ) at ith row and jth column of thepixel array 30 of the initial input image F1; P(i+1,j) denotes a pixel 37 (i.e., an immediately following pixel, as shown inFIG. 7 ) at i+1th row and jth column of thepixel array 30 of the initial input image F1; Graw x(i,j) denotes a brightness difference ratio of the present pixel in a horizontal direction (i.e., X-axis direction). - A brightness difference ratio in a horizontal direction (i.e., X-axis direction) between the present pixel P(i,j) and the immediately following pixel P(i+1,j) shown in
FIG. 7 is obtained as described in the above. Likewise, a brightness difference ratio of a pixel 37 (i.e., the present pixel) in a vertical direction (i.e., Y-axis direction, wherein, X-axis direction and Y-axis direction are orthogonal to each other) can be obtained as: -
- where P(i,j) denotes a pixel 37 (i.e., a present pixel) at ith row and jth column of the
pixel array 30 of the initial input image F1; P(i,j+1) denotes a pixel 37 (i.e., an immediately following pixel) at ith row and j+1th column of thepixel array 30 of the initial input image F1; Graw y(i,j) denotes a brightness difference ratio of the present pixel in a vertical direction (i.e., Y-axis direction). - Next, the image gradient correction procedure performed by the
computation unit 23 generates a pixel brightness correction value for eachpixel 37 by subtracting a basis brightness ratio from the brightness difference ratio (referring to step ST32 inFIG. 2 ). - In one embodiment, step ST32 in
FIG. 2 can be expressed as: -
G correct x(i,j)=G raw x(i,j)−G surface x(i,j) - where Graw x(i,j) denotes a brightness difference ratio of the present pixel P(i,j) in a horizontal direction (i.e., X-axis direction); Gsurface x(i,j) denotes a basis brightness ratio of each
pixel 37 in the horizontal direction (i.e., X-axis direction); Gcorrect x(i,j) denotes a pixel brightness correction value of the present pixel P(i,j) in the horizontal direction (i.e., X-axis direction). - Similar to the above, a pixel brightness correction value of a pixel 37 (i.e., the present pixel) in a vertical direction (i.e., Y-axis direction) can be obtained as:
-
G correct y(i,j)=G raw y(i,j)−G surface y(i,j) - where Graw y(i,j) denotes a brightness difference ratio of the present pixel P(i,j) in a vertical direction (i.e., Y-axis direction); Gsurface y(i,j) denotes a basis brightness ratio of each
pixel 37 in the vertical direction (i.e., Y-axis direction); Gcorrect y(i,j) denotes a pixel brightness correction value of the present pixel P(i,j) in the vertical direction (i.e., Y-axis direction). - Next, the image gradient correction procedure performed by the
computation unit 23 performs an integration procedure on the pixel brightness correction value of eachpixel 37, to generate a corresponding integrated pixel brightness correction value for eachpixel 37. In one embodiment, the integrated pixel brightness correction value of eachpixel 37 is equal to an integrated pixel brightness correction value of an immediately preceding pixel multiplied by (1 plus the pixel brightness correction value of the immediately preceding pixel) (referring to step ST33 inFIG. 2 ). - In one embodiment, step ST33 in
FIG. 2 can be expressed as: -
P correct x(i,j)=G correct x(i−1,j)*P correct x(i−1,j)+P correct x(i−1,j) - In an alternative expression, the above-mentioned equations can be defined as:
-
P correct x(i,j)=P correct x(i−1,j)*{1+G correct x(i−1,j)} - where Pcorrect x(i−1,j) denotes an integrated pixel brightness correct correction value of an immediately preceding pixel (i.e., pixel P(i−1,j)) in a horizontal direction (i.e., X-axis direction); Gcorrect x(i−1,j) denotes a pixel brightness correction correct value of the immediately preceding pixel (i.e., pixel P(i−1,j)) in the horizontal direction (i.e., X-axis direction); Pcorrect x(i,j) denotes an integrated pixel brightness correction value of the present pixel P(i,j) in the horizontal direction (i.e., X-axis direction).
- Similar to the above, an integrated pixel brightness correction value of the present pixel in a vertical direction (i.e., Y-axis direction) can be obtained as:
-
P correct y(i,j)=G correct y(i,j−1)*P correct y(i,j−1)+P correct y(i,j−1) - In an alternative expression, the above-mentioned equations can be defined as:
-
P correct y(i,j)=P correct y(i,j−1)*{1G correct y(i,j−1)} - where Pcorrect y(i,j−1) denotes an integrated pixel brightness correction value of an immediately preceding pixel (i.e., pixel P(i,j−1)) in a vertical direction (i.e., Y-axis direction); Gcorrect y(i,j−1) denotes a pixel brightness correction value of the immediately preceding pixel (i.e., pixel P(i,j−1)) in the vertical direction (i.e., Y-axis direction); Pcorrect y(i,j) denotes an integrated pixel brightness correction value of the present pixel P(i,j) in the vertical direction (i.e., Y-axis direction).
- Please refer to
FIGS. 8A-8B andFIG. 9 .FIG. 8A-8B show an example of the brightness of the pre-processed image, before and after an image gradient correction procedure has been performed on the pre-processed image.FIG. 9 shows a comparison between the pre-processed image which has been applied with the image gradient correction procedure and the pre-processed image which has not been applied with the image gradient correction procedure. As shown inFIG. 8A , although the pre-processed image F2 has been processed by the surface estimation procedure to remove minor fluctuations, the pre-processed image F2 still has defective non-uniform brightness. The pre-processed image F2 having defective non-uniform brightness inFIG. 8A corresponds to the curve “pre-processed image which has been processed by surface estimation procedure (non-uniform brightness)” inFIG. 9 .FIG. 9 also shows that, even though the pre-processed image F2 has been processed by the surface estimation procedure to remove minor fluctuations, the pre-processed image F2 still has defective non-uniform brightness. For example, as shown inFIG. 8A andFIG. 9 , the brightness of pixels near the center of the pre-processed image F2 are lower than the brightness of the pixels near the edge of the pre-processed image F2. The pixels near the center of the pre-processed image F2 suffer brightness degradation and are considerably darker than the pixels at the edge of the pre-processed image F2, which undesirably affects the accuracy in identifying the initial input image F1 (which is for example a fingerprint image). - However, as shown in
FIG. 8B , one feature and advantage of the present invention is that the present invention can eliminate the brightness non-uniformity of the initial input image F1 through processing the pre-processed image F2 by the image gradient correction procedure. As shown inFIG. 8B , after the pre-processed image F2 is processed by the image gradient correction procedure, the defect of non-uniform brightness within the pre-processed image F2 is greatly reduced. The pre-processed image F2 inFIG. 8B , whose defect of non-uniform brightness is greatly reduced, corresponds to the curve of “pre-processed image which has been processed by image gradient correction procedure (uniform brightness)” inFIG. 9 . It is apparent that after the pre-processed image F2 is processed by the image gradient correction procedure, the brightness of the pre-processed image F2 has become substantially uniform. For example, as shown inFIG. 8B andFIG. 9 , after the pre-processed image F2 is processed by the image gradient correction procedure, it is clear that the brightness of pixels near the center of the pre-processed image F2 is substantially the same as the brightness of the pixels near the edge of the pre-processed image F2. As a result, the pixels near the center of the pre-processed image F2 no longer suffer brightness degradation and have substantially the same brightness as the pixels at the edge of the pre-processed image F2; this greatly improves the accuracy of identifying the initial input image F1 (which is for example a fingerprint image). - Please refer to
FIG. 10 in conjugation withFIG. 2 .FIG. 10 shows an example of a pixel having a sharp gradient after an image gradient correction procedure has been performed on the pre-processed image. - In one embodiment, after the step ST3 (i.e., the implementation of image gradient correction procedure) and before the step ST4 (i.e., the
computation unit 23 outputs an output image F3 having an uniformity-processed brightness), the present invention can further eliminate a noise which is generated after the image gradient correction procedure has been performed. - For example, as shown in
FIG. 10 , the pre-processed image F2 has already been processed by the image gradient correction procedure, but this pre-processed image F2 has a noise. According to the present invention, for a pixel having a sharp gradient (with reference to neighboring pixels), the present invention will replace the integrated pixel brightness correction value of the pixel having the sharp gradient, by a predetermined brightness, to eliminate the noise. - In one embodiment, “a pixel having a sharp gradient” in a horizontal direction (i.e., X-axis direction) can be determined by:
-
sign(G correct x(i−1,j)≠sign(G correct x(i,j)) - where sign(Gcorrect x(i−1,j)) denotes a positive sign or a negative sign of a pixel brightness correction value of the immediately preceding pixel (i.e., pixel P(i−1,j)) in the horizontal direction (i.e., X-axis direction); sign(Gcorrect x(i,j)) denotes a positive sign or a negative sign of a pixel brightness correction value of the present pixel P(i,j) in the horizontal direction (i.e., X-axis direction).
- That is, when the sign of the pixel brightness correction value of the immediately preceding pixel (i.e., pixel P(i−1,j)) in the X-axis direction is not equal to the sign of the pixel brightness correction value of the present pixel P(i,j) in the X-axis direction, this indicates that a noise defect of “sharp gradient” in the X-axis direction occurs in the pixel at this position (as shown by the dashed circle in
FIG. 10 ). - Similarly, whether each
pixel 37 has a noise defect of “sharp gradient” in a vertical direction (i.e., Y-axis direction) can be determined by: -
sign(G correct y(i,j−1))≠sign(G correct y(i,j)) - where sign(Gcorrect y(i,j−1)) denotes a positive sign or a negative sign of a pixel brightness correction value of the immediately preceding pixel (i.e., pixel P(i,j−1)) in the vertical direction (i.e., Y-axis direction); sign(Gcorrect y(i,j)) denotes a positive sign or a negative sign of a pixel brightness correction value of the present pixel P(i,j) in the vertical direction (i.e., Y-axis direction).
- That is, when the sign of the pixel brightness correction value of the immediately preceding pixel (i.e., P(i,j−1)) in the Y-axis direction is not equal to the sign of the pixel brightness correction value of the present pixel P(i,j) in the Y-axis direction, this indicates that a noise defect of “sharp gradient” in the Y-axis direction occurs in the pixel at this position (as shown by the dashed circle in
FIG. 10 ). - When it is determined that a pixel has a noise defect of “sharp gradient” in a horizontal direction or a vertical direction, the present invention can remedy such undesirable noise defect by replacing the integrated pixel brightness correction value of the pixel having the sharp gradient by a predetermined brightness, to eliminate a noise in the pre-processed image F2 after it is processed by the image gradient correction procedure.
- In one embodiment, “replacing the integrated pixel brightness correction value of the pixel having the sharp gradient by a predetermined brightness” can be expressed as:
-
P correct(i,j)=P correct median(i,j) - where Pcorrect(i,j) denotes an integrated pixel brightness correction value of the pixel having the sharp gradient; Pcorrect median(i,j) denotes a middle value of the integrated pixel brightness correction value of the pixel having the sharp gradient. The middle value is for example obtained from at least a part of the pixels, such as an average of the brightness of a predetermined number of neighboring pixels, or a preset value.
- As such, after the pre-processed image F2 is processed by the image gradient correction procedure, the present invention can further eliminate a noise defect of “sharp gradient” within the pre-processed image F2. Thus, before the step ST4 (i.e., the
computation unit 23 outputs an output image F3 having an uniformity-processed brightness), a pre-processed image F2 having a more accurate uniform brightness can be obtained. - The present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof. It should be understood that the description is for illustrative purpose, not for limiting the scope of the present invention. An embodiment or a claim of the present invention does not need to achieve all the objectives or advantages of the present invention. The title and abstract are provided for assisting searches but not for limiting the scope of the present invention. Those skilled in this art can readily conceive variations and modifications within the spirit of the present invention. It is not limited for each of the embodiments described hereinbefore to be used alone; under the spirit of the present invention, two or more of the embodiments described hereinbefore can be used in combination. For example, two or more of the embodiments can be used together, or, a part of one embodiment can be used to replace a corresponding part of another embodiment. In view of the foregoing, the spirit of the present invention should cover both such and other modifications and variations, which should be interpreted to fall within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.
Claims (7)
1. An image brightness non-uniformity correction method, comprising the steps of:
(A) generating an initial input image, wherein the initial input image includes a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix, wherein each pixel has a corresponding pixel brightness and the initial input image has defective non-uniform brightness;
(B) performing a pre-processing procedure on the initial input image, to generate a pre-processed image;
(C) performing an image gradient correction procedure on the pre-processed image, wherein, the image gradient correction procedure is adopted for eliminating non-uniformity of the brightness of the initial input image; and
(D) outputting an output image having an uniformity-processed brightness;
wherein, the image gradient correction procedure includes the steps of:
(C1) based upon the pre-processed image, for each (a present pixel) of the pixels, generating a brightness difference ratio between the pixel brightness of a pixel immediately following the present pixel and the pixel brightness of the present pixel;
(C2) generating a pixel brightness correction value for each pixel by subtracting a basis brightness ratio from the brightness difference ratio; and
(C3) performing an integration procedure on each pixel brightness correction value for each pixel, to generate a corresponding integrated pixel brightness correction value for each pixel, wherein, for each present pixel, the integrated pixel brightness correction value is equal to the integrated pixel brightness correction value of an immediately preceding pixel multiplied by (1 plus the pixel brightness correction value of the immediately preceding pixel).
2. The image brightness non-uniformity correction method of claim 1 , further comprising:
before the step (C), estimating brightness information for at least a part of the pixels of the pre-processed image, to generate information of the brightness non-uniformity of the pre-processed image.
3. The image brightness non-uniformity correction method of claim 1 , further comprising:
after the step (C) and before the step (D), for a pixel having a sharp gradient, replacing the integrated pixel brightness correction value of the pixel having the sharp gradient with a predetermined brightness, to eliminate a noise which is generated after the image gradient correction procedure has been performed.
4. The image brightness non-uniformity correction method of claim 3 , wherein the predetermined brightness is a middle value obtained from the integrated pixel brightness correction values of at least a part of the pixels.
5. The image brightness non-uniformity correction method of claim 1 , wherein the pre-processing procedure includes the steps of:
(B1) performing a defect removing procedure on the initial input image, to remove a pixel having defective image information;
(B2) performing a smoothing procedure on the defect-removed initial input image, to reduce noise interference on the initial input image; and
(B3) performing a sharping procedure on the smoothed initial input image, to enhance contrast among the pixel brightness of the pixels near the edge of the initial input image.
6. An image brightness correction device, comprising:
an image input unit, which is configured to operably generate an initial input image, wherein the initial input image includes a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix, wherein each pixel has a corresponding pixel brightness and the initial input image has defective non-uniform brightness;
a pre-processing unit, which is configured to operably perform a pre-processing procedure on the initial input image, to generate a pre-processed image; and
a computation unit, which is configured to operably perform an image gradient correction procedure on the pre-processed image, wherein, the image gradient correction procedure is adopted for eliminating non-uniformity of the brightness of the initial input image; and wherein, after performing the image gradient correction procedure, the computation unit outputs an output image having an uniformity-processed brightness.
7. The image brightness correction device of claim 6 , wherein the image gradient correction procedure performed by the computation unit includes the steps of:
based upon the pre-processed image, for each (a present pixel) of the pixels, generating a brightness difference ratio between the pixel brightness of a pixel immediately following the present pixel and the pixel brightness of the present pixel;
generating a pixel brightness correction value for each pixel by subtracting a basis brightness ratio from the brightness difference ratio; and
performing an integration procedure on each pixel brightness correction value for each pixel, to generate a corresponding integrated pixel brightness correction value for each pixel, wherein, for each present pixel, the integrated pixel brightness correction value is equal to the integrated pixel brightness correction value of an immediately preceding pixel multiplied by (1 plus the pixel brightness correction value of the immediately preceding pixel).
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